Most people in the Bay Area live less than 10 miles from a fault that can have a damaging earthquake, such as the the San Andreas on the Peninsula and the Hayward fault through the East Bay. Numerous other faults are capable of having damaging earthquakes similar to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Larger earthquakes, like the 1906 earthquake, can occur on the San Andreas and cause damage throughout the region. Even away from faults, soils in lowland areas may be unable to support buildings during earthquakes and landslides are likely on hillsides.
